Torsional edge spring for mattresses and the like



Aug. 17, 1965 R. c. COSTELLO TORSIONAL EDGE SPRING FOR MATTRESSES AND THE LIKE Filed 001;. 22, 1962 24 jam, flaw.) M6225 United States Patent 3,260,417 TORSIONAL EDGE SPRING FOR MATTRESEIES AND THE LIKE Robert (I. Costello, Flossmoor, Ill., assignor to Simmons Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 231,937 8 Claims. (Cl. 26()) This invention relates to mattresses, box springs, cushions or the like, and particularly to edge reinforcing springs, sometimes called stabilizers, for such articles.

It is a familiar experience that mattresses, cushions and bed springs are subjected in normal usage to intense local loading along their edges, which tends in time to impair not only the appearance of the article but also its comfort. The practice of sitting on the edge of the bed ultimately tends to depress the border of the mattress, whether by compressing the coil springs normally found therein or the Wire borders of the spring construction, or both, to the point where they acquire a permanent set. The eifect is particularly noticeable in hotels and motels, where the telephone is usually located on a night table or stand at one side of the bed. The resulting set of the springs of the mattress or the underlying bed spring, or both, result in a disturbing tilt toward one side of the bed giving the occupant the uneasy feeling of a tendency to roll to the low side of the bed. Housewives concerned about the appearance of their beds find the loss of the initial, trim, box-like appearance of the mattress equally disturbing.

While edge-reinforcing springs, or stabilizers, as they are frequently called in the trade, have been developed in varying forms, it is an object of this invention to provide an edge-reinforcing spring of an improved type which is economical to manufacture, simple to install in mattresses of construction conventional at the present time, which is simple, rugged and of greater durability, and the presence of which is indiscernable to hand-feel along the border of the mattress whether the edge of the mattress is compressed or standing upright.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent and the invention readily understood from the following description read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view of a mattress or cushion showing in particular one corner thereof with the outer covering and up'holstering materials partially broken away to show the inner spring construction and the assembly of edge-reinforcing springs therewith in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a composite form of edge-reinforcing spring in accordance with the invention, removed from the mattress core assembly for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the edge-reinforcing spring assembly shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective illustration of one element of the spring assembly of FIGURE 2, which itself is separately usable for the same purpose and in which there is shown in dotted outline a variation which may be employed when it is desired to efiectively lengthen the torsional element of such springs when used individually; and

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the spring element shown in FIGURE 4, and shows in dotted outline a further variation particularly adapted for use of the spring element individually.

As may already be evident from a brief inspection of the drawings, edge-reinforcing springs or stabilizers in accordance with the invention utilize the resilient torsional resistance of an elongated rod-like element incor porated into a toggle, i.e., having divergent arms extending from opposite ends of the elongated torsional element and adapted at their ends to be associated with, in the illustrated case, the upper and lower peripheral edges of a mattress or cushion. It will be understood, of course, that such a spring may be employed in similar fashion along the edges of a fixed or non-reversible piece, i.e., one having a base of suitable framing members, e.g., box springs, open bed springs, and other forms of upholstered construction.

In the specific form illustrated, and referring to FIG- URES 4 and 5, the spring 10 is formed from a length of spring wire bent so as to have a mid-portion 12 which serves as the torsion-ally resistant or twisting element, and, at each end thereof, a transverse arm 14 which is shown in the illustrated cases as being approximately perpendicular to the axis of the torsional mid-portion 12, the two transverse arms 14 extending divergently from the torsional 'axis of the twistable mid-portion 12. In some instances, it may be desirable that the transverse arms 14 diverge or converge longitudinally, as well as diverging radially, from the torsional mid-portion 12.

When the spring elements are formed of wire, and contemplating their incorporation into mattresses or cushions of conventional construction, the transverse arms 14 are conveniently provided with attaching end portions I6 which are simply bent parallel to each other, and, conveniently but not necessarily, also parallel to the torsion-a1 mid-portion 12 and in opposite directions from each other, so that they may be suitably attached to the peripheral edges of the spring construction. Such attach ment may be made with sheet metal clips or hog rings curled around the end portions of the edge-reinforcing spring and the border wire of the mattress, or, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the edge-reinforcing spring may be incorporated into the spring core 18 of a mattress or cushion by causing the end portions 16 to be encircled by the border helical 2t) often used to attach the border wires or border frames 22 of the spring construction to the upper and lower convolutions of the peripheral spring coils 24 of the mattress. As shown in the solid outlines of FIGURE 4, the end portions 16 of the spring are preferably turned in opposite directions, viz., outwardly as shown, or as well inwardly (dotted outline, FIG. 5), the purpose of the opposed orientation of the said end portions being to prevent their dislocation once they are assembled with the border wires of the spring construction.

As further shown in dotted in line in FIGURE 4, it may be desirable when using the spring elements individually in those instances when a softer spring elfect is desired for a given thickness of rod or wire, to increase the length of the torsional mid-portion 12, but to fold or bend the said torsional mid-portion back upon itself in one or both directions, as shown at 12', to relocate the transverse arms of the springs, as shown at 14', more nearly into alignment. It may be appreciated that as the transverse arms 14 move farther apart longitudinally of the torsional mid-portion 12, the compression of the edge of the mattress or cushion in which they are installed will ultimately produce a bending effect proportionally greater than the twisting effect in the unsupported torsional midportion 12, i.e., that the torsional resistance of the wire becomes less available, as a utilizable spring force, as the distance between the two arms 14 is increased. However, for relatively stiff wire and relatively short lengths of the torsional mid-portion 12, the effect is not pronounced, and single spring elements 10 of the approximate proportions of FIGURES 4 and 5 are quite effective.

I have also found it advantageous to employ conjointly two such spring elements 16 as are shown in FIGURE 4, assembled in mutually-supporting combination as the composite torsional spring element illustrated in FIG- Patented Aug. 17, I965 URES 1, 2 and 3. In this arrangement, two individual spring elements 1d are assembled together with their torsional mid-portions 12 in side-by-side relation and encircled in an enclosing sleeve 26 which journals the torsional mid-portions of the two elements. The sleeve 26 may consist of a piece of steel strapping or the like curled around its longitudinal axis to form in effect an enclosing sleeve or tube of length slightly shorter than the lengths of the torsional mid-portions 12 of the individual elements. A sleeve of such length provides ease of handling of the combined spring elements, inasmuch as it prevents longitudinal shifting of the individual spring elements relative to each other during handling incident to assembly. However, I have found it also satisfactory to encircle the juxtaposed torsional mid-portions with a suitable narrow ring or collar or tape at or near the end of the juxtaposed mid-portions, as suggested by the unbroken end portions of the sleeve 26 in FIGURE 2, as these likewise serve to journal the mid-portions of the spring elements. In either event, when two such spring elements It) are combined as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, and particularly when the length of the torsional mid-portions is increased, it is desirable that they be assembled together, whether by sleeve, collar or tape, and preferably at least adjacent their respective ends, so as to be mutually supporting, i.e., so as to fully utilize the torsional resistance of the wire by eliminating the tendency toward bending of the mid-portions, as distinguished from twisting, as the (length of the mid-portions) is increased.

The composite or dual-element arrangement of FIG- URES 1, 2, and 3 is particularly suitable for assembly in compact inner spring units, i.e., those having a substantial number of relatively soft coils, say of the order of 220 or more springs per normal double bed mattresses. In such cases it is convenient to select the size and character of the wire such that the desired resilience is obtained by making the torsional mid-portion 12 of the spring elements of length such that the transverse arms 14 of the composite unit will embrace one or a suitable multiple of the peripheral springs 24, with the torsional mid-portions 12 of the elements disposed rearwardly of the peripheral springs, i.e., toward the interior of the construction, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The length of the arms 14 and the angle of their divergence from the torsional axis when unstressed, are preferably such as to place the mid-portions 12 of the dual spring unit between the peripheral and next adjacent row of springs, and preferably sufiiciently close to the peripheral row so that the inward movement of the mid-portions 12, as the toggle closes, will not cause the same to strike the second row of springs.

In most cases, the height of the peripheral coil springs 24 relative to their diameter, particularly if they are of the hour-glass type, as is customary, will permit a substantial initial or unstressed divergent angle between the transverse arms so that notwithstanding the closing of the toggle, the torsional mid-parts 12 do not strike the immediately adjacent row of springs. In constructions of high numbers of small coils, it may be desirable to embrace two or more peripheral coils 24 between the arms 14, and to provide arms 14 such length and of such initial or unstressed divergence as to place the torsional midparts 12 of the spring elements behind the second or subsequent row of springs in order to reduce the inward travel of the torsional mid-parts 12 as the edge of the mattress is compressed.

The selection of the length of the arms 14, the length of the torsional mid-parts 12 of the spring elements, the size of the wire or rod, the character of the material, and the initial or unstressed angle of divergence of the arms 14, so to achieve the desired spring effect within the elastic limits of the material employed, are principles which will be readily understood by those versed in the spring art and need no elaboration here. My preferred material is spring steel of the general character of that employed for the coil springs, and the edge-reinforcing springs, after they are formed, are preferably annealed, either separately or with the entire spring core after assembly therewith.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that this form of edge-reinforcing spring, utilizing the torsional resistance of the material, is extremely simple to fabricate and to assemble with a spring construction, and is particularly useful when two such elements are combined into a single unit, as shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3, to make optimum use of the torsional resistance of the material by rendering the torsional mid-portions of the two spring elements mutually supporting.

What is claimed is:

1. A torsion edge spring for the core of a mattress, bed spring, cushion or the like, comprising a pair of torslonally-resilient elongated elements co-journalled in mutually-supporting, relatively-rotatable relationship and each having at each end thereof a transverse arm, said arms of each element extending divergently from the torsional axis of said element and having at their ends means for attachment to the upper and lower peripheral edges respectively of said core.

An edge spring for the core of a mattress, bed spring, cushion or the like, comprising a pair of rods each bent so as to comprise a torsion-bar mid-portion from each end of which extends a transverse arm, said arms of each rod extending clivergently from the axis of the mid-portion and each having an end portion adapted to be secured respectively to an upper and lower peripheral edge of said core, said mid-portions of said pair of rods being connected together in mutually supporting side-by-side relation.

3. An edge spring for the core of a mattress, bed spring, cushion or the like, comprising a pair of rods each bent so as to comprise a torsion-rod mid-portion from each end of which extends a transverse arm, said arms of each rod extending divergently from the axis of the mid-portion and each having a free end-portion bent to extend parallel to said mid-portion, said end-portions of said arms of each rod extending in opposite directions, said mid-portions of said pair of rods being connected together in mutuallysupporting relatively rotatable relation.

4. An edge spring for the core of a mattress, bed spring, cushion or the like, comprising a pair of rods each bent so as to comprise a torsion-bar mid-portion from each end of which extends a transverse arm, said arms of each rod extending divergently from the axis of the midportion and having end portions bent in opposite directrons and parallel to said mid-portion, the mid-portions of said rods being journalled within a common sleeve.

5. A core for mattresses, bed springs, cushions or the like having at least a peripheral row of axially-vertical wire spring coils each connected to upper and lower border wires encircling the upper and lower faces of said core respectively, and a plurality of supplemental edgeremforc mg springs disposed about the periphery of said core, sa1d edge-reinforcing springs each comprising a pair of wire rods each bent so as to have a torsion-bar midportion and at each end thereof a transverse arm, said arms of each rod extending divergently from the axis of said mid-portion and being attached at their free ends respectively to said upper and lower border Wires, said mid-portions of said wire rods of each edge-reinforcing spring being connected together in mutually-supporting, relatively rotatable relation and disposed inwardly of said peripheral row of springs with said arms at opposite ends of said mid-portions in flanking relation to at least one of said peripheral springs.

6. A spring core for mattresses, bed springs, cushions or the like having at least a peripheral row of axially-vertical wire spring coils, upper and lower border wires encircling the upper and lower faces of said core respectively, and a plurality of supplemental edge-reinforcing san al? springs disposed along the peripheral of said core, said edge reinforcing springs each comprising a pair of wire rods each bent so as to have a torsion-bar mid-portion and at each end thereof a transverse arm, said arms of each rod extending divergently from the axis of said midportion and having end portions bent in opposite directions and parallel to said mid-portion, said mid-portions of said wire rods of each edge-reinforcing spring being connected together in mutually-supporting, relatively-rotatable relation and disposed inwardly of said peripheral row of springs with said transverse arms at opposite ends of said mid-portions in flanking relation to at least one of said peripheral springs, and helicals encircling said border wires and the adjacent portions of the top and bottom convolutions of said peripheral springs and the end portions of said arms.

7. An edge spring for the core of a mattress, bed spring, cushion or the like, comprising a pair of rods each bent so as to comprise a substantially straight torsionrod mid-portion from each end of which extends a transverse arm, said arms of each rod extending divergently from the axis of the mid-portion and each having a free end-portion bent to extend parallel to said mid-portion for attachment to a border wire of the core, said rods being arranged so that said torsion-rod mid-portions lie adjacent each other, and means connecting said torsion-rod mid-portions at points near the respective ends thereof so that said torsion-rod mid-portions are mutually sup porting whereby bending of said torsion-rod mid-portions from loads transmitted thereto by said divergent arms is prevented.

8. A core for mattresses, bed springs, cushions or the like having axially-vertical wire spring coils, upper and lower border wires encircling the upper and lower faces of said core respectively, and a plurality of supplemental edge-reinforcing springs disposed about the periphery of said core, said edge-reinforcing springs each comprising a pair of wire rods each bent so as to have a substantially straight torsion-bar mid-portion and at each end thereof a transverse arm, said arms of each rod extending divergently from the axis of said mid-portion and being attached at their free ends respectively to said upper and lower border wires, said mid-portions of said pair of wire rods of each edge-reinforcing spring being assembled adjacent each other, means connecting the free ends of said arms to said upper and lower border wires so that the arms at each end of said adjacent torsion-bar midportions diverge at angles that are substantially equal and means connecting said torsion-rod mid-portions at points near the respective ends thereof so that said torsion-bar mid-portions mutually support each other whereby bending of said torsion-bar mid-portions from loads transmitted by said divergent arms is prevented.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,815,210 7/31 OBrien 5262 2,029,076 1/ 36 Leeman 5262 X 2,798,233 7/57 Robell 5262 X 2,998,971 9/61 Strout et a1 267107 3,049,377 8/62 Asaro et al 267-107 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TORSION EDGE SPRING FOR THE CORE OF A MATTRESS, BED SPRING, CUSHION OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING A PAIR OF TORSIONALLY-RESILIENT ELONGATED ELEMENTS CO-JOURNALLED IN MUTUALL-SUPPORTING, RELATIVELY-ROTATABLE RELATIONSHIP AND EACH HAVING AT EACH END THEREOF A TRANSVERSE AND ARMS OF EACH ELEMENT EXTENDING DIVERGENTLY FROM THE TORSIONAL AXIS OF SAID ELEMENT EXTENDING DIVERGENTLY FROM THE TORFOR ATTACHMENT TO THE UPPER AND LOWER PERIPHERAL EDGES RESPECTIVELY OF SAID CORE. 